Ferocious Giant Beast

Roar!

A deafening howl shook the heavens and earth, echoing through the secret realm.

Everyone within the hidden domain turned their gazes toward the source.

Boom!

The ground trembled violently.

A storm of raging energy swept forth!

Lin Chen swiftly grabbed Su Xue'er beside him, his expression grave.

Chen Bing's face also paled with terror.

In his thousand-year cycle of rebirth, he had witnessed countless bizarre phenomena in this world—but the horrifying aura before him was utterly unprecedented!

Jiang Cheng, Ji Chen, Xue Ming, Zhang Fan, and the others all halted in their tracks, their eyes fixed on the central region.

A yin-yang diagram materialized in the air—only to shatter moments later!

A massive claw wreathed in black flames tore through the earth, emerging from below.

"What... what is that?!"

Su Xue'er's delicate face drained of color as she buried her head tightly against Lin Chen's chest.

Lin Chen's expression turned icy, his grip on the Lieyun Staff trembling slightly.

Fear—a primal, soul-deep terror—washed over him.

Jiang Cheng tightened his knuckle dusters, his usually smiling eyes now wide with vigilance.

Ji Chen's dual-toned face of good and evil grew even more sinister as he brandished a staff he had never used before.

Shangguan Qianqian suppressed the urges coursing through her body, her expression shifting as she stared at the flaming claw rising from the depths.

"This cycle's Hongtian Secret Realm has changed... I don't recall any legends of a beast like this!"

Then, an enormous black head emerged, its crimson eyes scanning the crowd, saliva dripping from jagged fangs.

Even Xue Ruirui clung to Zhang Fan beside her, teeth chattering as she stammered, "S-so... so big!"

The Hongtian Beast gazed down at them, baring its fangs in what seemed like a grin.

It was free!

After five thousand years of imprisonment—it was finally free!

Roar!

The Hongtian Beast opened its maw and inhaled.

Two nearby martial artists were lifted off their feet, screaming as they were swallowed whole!

Blood splattered.

The sight left the crowd stunned.

The two who had just been devoured were elders of the Black Demon Sect—ranked within the top 130 of the Heavenly Rankings! Yet they had been consumed in a single bite!

"Run!"

Faced with this towering monstrosity, no one hesitated. They scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives.

This was no enemy humans could oppose!

Survival was their only option!

The Hongtian Beast's lips curled in mockery.

To it, these humans scurrying beneath its feet were no different from ants—mere morsels to be devoured.

However...

Its power seemed diminished.

The beast raised its claw, observing the flickering black flames—now far less concentrated than before.

After five millennia of suppression, some loss of strength was inevitable.

No matter. It was time to celebrate with a feast.

The Hongtian Beast swiped again.

Another martial artist was effortlessly snatched up and swallowed.

The taste of fresh blood ignited the beast's senses.

The vibrant, living flavor filled it with ecstasy!

"Ah... how I've missed this."

As the beast moved, its colossal form began to shrink—from a mountain-like stature down to the height of a two-story building.

Yet even at this size, its presence remained terrifying.

Wreathed in black fire, its features were obscured save for a single blood-red eye scanning the area.

Each step left behind scorched craters where its flames had seared the earth.

The overwhelming pressure it exuded made even fleeing a struggle—legs turned to jelly under its gaze.

Though its movements appeared leisurely, the beast closed distances in the blink of an eye.

It appeared before a fleeing martial artist, playfully opening its jaws.

"Run along now~"

The man barely had time to register the sudden maw before darkness consumed him.

The Hongtian Beast chewed contentedly before swallowing, its grin widening.

"Delicious."

Then its crimson eye narrowed.

"Now... where did that little troublemaker go?"

Annoyingly, the one who had freed it seemed to have vanished.

If caught, the beast wouldn't kill him outright—oh no.

With that "Undying Martial Body" of his, it could nibble away bit by bit.

Leave the head and heart intact, let the flesh regenerate, then feast again.

A living larder of perpetual torment!

One by one, more victims were claimed.

Trapped and desperate, the survivors' panic mounted.

"Damn it! The mirror barrier won't let us back through!"

A warrior slashed at the translucent boundary they'd entered from—to no avail.

The other three sides were solid walls.

They were caged in this space, left to be picked off at the beast's leisure.

Of the 108 who had entered the secret realm, only thirty had reached this hall.

Now, in mere minutes, over a dozen had been eaten.

"Listen!" Jiang Cheng stepped forward, voice cutting through the chaos. "We have no retreat. If death is certain either way, why not fight together? Scattered and afraid, we're just prey waiting to be slaughtered!"

His presence steadied the group.

Right—they still had the top-ranked genius of the Hidden Dragon List among them!

With so many experts here, why not unite against this monster?

Yan Zhi's eyes shone with admiration.

This is why he's destined to lead the Law Enforcement Bureau—such commanding presence!

Wham!

A gale-force wind erupted as the black claw flashed.

Jiang Cheng's body was sent flying like a swatted fly, tumbling across the ground before smashing into a stone wall a hundred meters away.

The crowd: "..."

Well... so much for that.

The Hongtian Beast licked its claws, savoring the blood with a taunting gleam in its eye.

"Enough sampling—time for the main course."

It swung again.

Mo Jiu sensed the incoming strike and pivoted, hefting his great axe in defense.

"Demonic Transformation!"

With a roar, dark energy surged around him, the axe blade radiating terrifying power.

The onlookers gaped.

None had guessed Mo Jiu harbored such strength!

"Transcendent Realm?"

"No—this borders on the mythical Void Realm!"

The Hongtian Beast extended a claw and flicked the axe with a single talon.

Mo Jiu's arms trembled violently, blood vessels rupturing under the strain.

Crack!

His knees buckled, collapsing to the ground.

A casual flick of the beast's claw—

Snap!

The axe split in two. Mo Jiu's body hurtled backward, slamming into the wall.

He lay motionless, chest barely rising—mortally wounded.

The beast leisurely surveyed the scene, its crimson gaze settling on Shangguan Qianqian's hiding spot.

It had glimpsed An Yi's memories—this woman was connected to him.

Its eye then shifted to Yan Zhi, then Lin Chen.

Ah, these two also share ties with that brat.

A cruel smirk formed.

"No one escapes. You'll all suffer in turn."

"Qianqian, run!" Tang Qingqing shouted, seeing the beast's focus lock onto her friend.

But it was too late.

The Hongtian Beast lunged, jaws widening toward Shangguan Qianqian—

Then—

A hand shot out from a fissure in the ground.

"Looking for me, mutt? Over here!"